Cleaning Tack
If you work on some yards they will make you clean a horses tack every day. In my world I simply don’t have time to do this. I tend to clean mine if I have a show I’m going to – which in the summer could be up to two times a week, or when I think it warrants it.
![Basic Horse Care Tack Cleaning Equipment (www.basic-horse-care.com) Basic Horse Care Tack Cleaning Equipment (www.basic-horse-care.com)](https://basic-horse-care.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Basic-Horse-Care-Tack-Cleaning-Equipment.jpg)
To clean the bridle leather I start off by dismantling it. I then use a relatively blunt knife to scrape off any excess grime – this tends to build up in areas around the nose and brow band.
I then clean it using a liquid spray saddle sale soap – there are loads of the market and I find them easier to use than a traditional soap. I follow the guidelines on the bottle, spray the soap onto the area and then gently scrub with a small sponge.
![Basic Horse Care Tack Cleaning Soap Spray (www.basic-horse-care.com) Basic Horse Care Tack Cleaning Soap Spray (www.basic-horse-care.com)](https://basic-horse-care.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Basic-Horse-Care-Tack-Cleaning-Soap-Spray.jpg)
When the entire bridle has been cleaned I then use a leather conditioner. Sometimes I use a balm with a old tea towel – massaging it into the leather. I also have a spray conditioner but I quite like the balm.
The bit then usually goes in the dishwasher (it comes out really shiney) or gets a really good scrub in the sink.
Saddle
I clean my leather saddle in a similar way to the bridle – obviously I dismantle it, but I do make sure I clean all over it both the top, the underneath, the bottom and all the girth straps.
![Basic Horse Care Saddle Cleaning Spray (www.basic-horse-care.com) Basic Horse Care Saddle Cleaning Spray (www.basic-horse-care.com)](https://basic-horse-care.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Basic-Horse-Care-Saddler-Cleaning-Spray.jpg)
The stirrup leathers also get cleaned during this process. The stirrups get shoved in the dish washer as well.
My saddle blankets get washed regularly in the washing machine – much to my partners annoyance as the hairs tend to stay in the machine and the stick to the next washes clothes.
I don’t use other tack on a regular basis but if I did need to clean a chest plate etc and it was made out of leather the same process would be followed as with the bridle.
![Basic Horse Care Stirrup (www.Basic-Horse-Care.com) Basic Horse Care Stirrup (www.Basic-Horse-Care.com)](https://basic-horse-care.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Basic-Horse-Care-Stirrup.jpg)
I HATE cleaning my tack – but there’s nothing nicer than looking at it when it’s all done and looks as a good as new.
One Comment
Sophie
wow never thought of putting bit and stirrups in the dishwasher!!!! that seems such a cool idea i’m gunna try it out for the next show Thanks 🙂